Yesterday was my first day at La Fuente Health Clinic. It
was a good day, to be my “first day” because both the Family Med doctor and the
Pediatrician that we’re being hosted by were working. This meant who ever had
the more interesting patient, I got to join them, and it wound up being a really
fast-paced and interesting day.
Here is a list of the patients we saw: 40F with a lip wound
for 5 yrs. 13F with stomach pain, weight loss, headaches, plus we diagnosed her
with mild scoliosis. 5M with a cold and possible bacterial diarrhea. 4M with a
cold. 22F with headaches. 2mo baby boy for general check-up. 27F with headaches. 62F
with pelvic pain. 33F with a sore throat and chronic stomach issues.
The list isn’t that crazy…besides the first lady with the
unhealed lip wound for the past 5 yrs, it’s a list of very common complaints
both here and in the states. This being said, these visits were nothing like
the doctors visits I am used to in the states. The way you diagnose things
here, the “home remedies” people have tried, the medicines were going to prescribe…it
is a bit different, even with such “routine issues”.
For example, the 22F with headaches, shes never had her
vision checked…ever! (how could this be!) the doctor I was working with quickly
figured this out and is highly suspicious this is the source of her headaches.
OR for example, for the 5M with diarrhea, the pediatrician I
worked with said that she’d never give antibiotics for diarrhea right off the
bat, first of all diarrhea is almost always viral in the states, plus she feels
confident in getting tests on stool samples in the states. But here, the family
we saw wasn’t going to have the money to pay for a stool test that costs less
than 15 dollars, and there is a higher likelihood its bacterial.
And the most glaring example of “whats different”: ALL THE
PATIENTS SPEAK SPANISH! Despite being immersed here for the past two months,
and practicing “medical Spanish” at my Spanish school for the past 3 wks…the
first few patient visits were really difficult to follow. Lots of our patients
speak Qeuchua (the native INCA language) as their first language, and Spanish
as their second language, so that adds to the difficulties, but by the time the
day was over, I was figuring out “most” of what the doctor and patient we
talking about.
Also, cool news: I even mustered up the courage to see a
patient on my own…my very first Spanish patient encounter without a translator,
ever! In all honesty, I sorta butchered the encounter, I had to read a few
questions to her, but for the most part I knew her basic medical history and
what her current complaint was…and when we went back into the room with the
doctor he said that there wasn’t much that I missd. At one point, wasn’t able to pronounce the 2
words I know that have to deal with “going no. 2” well enough for her to
understand me and I restored to pointing at my backside to try to get her to
understand me…a very funny moment for me.
Anyways, it was a very satisfying first day, its increased
my desire to really practice my Spanish out-loud, with the hopes of being able
to do more and more patient visits, on my own.
One other cool thing, the doctor that I work with overseas a
public health outreach program in rural towns, 8 hrs from cusco…they mostly do
nutrition programs as well as basic health education…And: maren and I are going
to go on one of these 4 day trips, this week. I will have to miss 2 days of
clinic, but I am really looking forward to this chance to “see public health in
action” after 4 yrs of studying it, plus, I am going to get to give a lesson on
“malnutrition”, which is a huge problem in this area (44% of kids under 5 are
malnourished).
Alrighty, like I said, some of my posts are going to be a
little more medically related, hope to still keep your interest, by continuing
to share stories and pictures as well.
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| a picture of the clinic where I will be for the next 2 months |
awesome, Ben!
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